Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
I
ALL-IN-ONE GIFT PACKAGING SYSTEM
Technical Field
[0001] The embodiments described herein relate generally to paper goods, and
more
particularly, to a gift or greeting card packaging system.
Description of Related Art
[0002] Currently, when giving gifts consumers have to buy a greeting card,
gift box or
bag, gift, and wrapping or gift bag separately, which takes times out of a
consumer's day,
particularly when the consumer has to travel to more than one store to get the
gift components.
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Summary of the Invention
[0003] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
greeting card system, said system comprising: a greeting card; a greeting card
container for
receiving said greeting card; wherein said greeting card comprises a planar
greeting card portion
coupled to a gift storage compartment, wherein said gift storage compartment
comprises a
volume and depth for storing an item; wherein said greeting card further
comprises a greeting
card cover, wherein said greeting card cover is moveably coupled to said
planar greeting card
portion to move from an open position to a closed position adjacent to said
planar greeting card
portion, and wherein said greeting card cover is not directly coupled to said
gift storage
compartment, and wherein said greeting card further comprises a hanger;
wherein said planar
greeting card portion has a planar face, and wherein said gift storage
compartment has a planar
front face; and wherein said planar face of said planar greeting card portion
and said planar front
face of said gift storage compartment are in substantially parallel vertical
planes when said
greeting card cover is in said open and closed position.
[0003a] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a
greeting card comprising: a planar greeting card portion; a greeting card
cover moveably coupled
to said planar greeting card portion to move from an open position to a closed
position adjacent
to said planar greeting card portion; a gift storage compartment coupled to
said planar greeting
card portion, wherein said gift storage compartment comprises a volume and
depth for storing an
item; wherein said greeting card cover can open and close relative to said
planar greeting card
portion without moving said gift storage compartment; and wherein said
greeting card comprises
a hanger; wherein said planar greeting card portion has a planar face, and
wherein said gift
storage compartment has a planar front face; and wherein said planar face of
said planar greeting
card portion and said planar front face of said gift storage compartment are
in substantially
parallel vertical planes when said greeting card cover is in said open and
closed position.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0004] By way of example only, the present invention, as well as a preferred
mode of
use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will be best understood by
reference to the
following detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read in
conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0005] Fig. 1 is a top view of a greeting card in one embodiment;
[0006] Fig. 2 is a top view of a greeting card with a movable cover in one
embodiment;
[0007] Fig. 3a is a top view of an optional expandable greeting card container
that is
configured to hold or contain the multipurpose greeting card in one
embodiment;
[0008] Fig. 3b is a side view of the expandable greeting card container of
Figure 3a in
one embodiment;
[0009] Figs 4a and 4b are perspective views of the greeting card being
inserted into a
container;
[0010] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a multipurpose greeting card in one
embodiment;
[0011] Fig. 6 is a front view of an embodiment comprising a gift card in one
embodiment.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Several embodiments of Applicants' invention will now be described with
reference to the drawings. Unless otherwise noted, like elements will be
identified by identical
numbers throughout all figures. The invention illustratively disclosed herein
suitably may be
practiced in the absence of any element which is not specifically disclosed
herein.
[0013] The following description is meant to disclose further description of
the
invention. Some embodiments of the present invention include an all-in-one
gift packaging
system for packaging a gift intended for a receipt. The gift packaging system
may include a
multipurpose greeting card, a gift storage compartment attached to the
multipurpose greeting
card, and an expandable card container having a volume sufficient to hold the
multipurpose
greeting card. In some embodiments, the multipurpose greeting card can include
a card portion
and a gift storage compartment attached to the card portion, such that the
multipurpose greeting
card can function as both a greeting card and gift box and/or bag. For
example, the gift storage
compartment may be configured to hold a gift, such as a candy bar, gift card,
other candy, or
other gift item.
[0014] In one embodiment, the system disclosed herein may be used as a gift
card and
a gift box or bag for giving someone a gift and can comprise a multipurpose
greeting card,
expandable card container, and/or gift storage compartment. However, a person
having ordinary
skill in the art relevant to this field of the present invention will
understand that there are
potential equivalent options that may be substituted within an embodiment
without changing the
essential function or operation of the device.
[0015] Figure 1 is a front view of a greeting card in one embodiment. Figure 1
depicts
a novel all-in-one gift packaging system for giving a gift to an individual.
In one embodiment,
and as depicted, the system comprises a multipurpose greeting card 10, an
optional gift storage
compartment 20 that in one embodiment is expandable and has a certain volume
where a gift can
be placed inside the gift storage compartment 20, a gift storage compartment
surface 30, and a
greeting card portion 40.
[0016] The greeting card portion 40 is the internal surface of a greeting
card. In a
typical greeting card, the user opens the cover to read what is written in the
internal surface of
the greeting card. This internal surface upon which messages are written is
referred to herein as
the greeting card portion. The greeting card portion 40 can be used to write a
note, create
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graphics, or print card messages. The messages or graphics can include any
desirable message
and can include, but are not limited to happy birthday, congratulations, happy
anniversary, or
other messages that may either be pre-printed on the greeting card portion, be
hand-written by
the customer, or comprise private labeling by a third-party in a pre-printed
format or custom
format. Furthermore, the greeting card portion 40 can include audio or video
components which
allow the user to listen or watch a video. In one embodiment the greeting card
can comprise
customized video, images, photos, audio, text, and combinations thereof. The
customized video,
images, photos, audio and/or text can be uploaded to a website to be used in
the greeting cards.
In one embodiment the greeting card portion 40 comprises a flat planar
surface. In another
embodiment, the greeting card portion 40 comprises a slit at the top left
corner and a slit at the
bottom right corner in order to hold an item, card or gift card. However, the
slits can be located
in any manner on the multipurpose greeting card 10, gift storage compartment
20, gift storage
compartment surface 30, greeting card portion 40, greeting card cover 60, or
the expandable card
container 80.
[0017] Coupled to the greeting card portion 40 is the gift storage compartment
20.
While the gift storage compartment 20 is depicted as being below the greeting
card portion 40,
this is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting. The
greeting card
portion 40 and the gift storage compartment 20 can be coupled via any method
or device known
in the art including, but not limited to, glue, adhesives, stitching, case,
strap, cellophane, hook
and loop structures such as Velcro , rubber band, cellophane overlap, etc. The
greeting card
portion 40 and the gift storage compartment 20 can be directly coupled or
indirectly coupled.
They are coupled directly if they are directly coupled to one another. They
are indirectly
coupled if they are coupled through an intermediate item. In one embodiment
the gift storage
compartment 20 comprises a separate compartment which is later coupled to the
greeting card
portion 40. In other embodiments, however, the gift storage compartment 20 and
the greeting
card portion 40 are integrally made. In one embodiment, the gift storage
compartment 20 and
the greeting card portion are integrally made from a single sheet of material.
In such
embodiments the sheet is folded as necessary to produce the desired greeting
card 10. Such
embodiments have the advantage of fewer pieces, resulting in decreased
manufacturing costs.
For example, and in one non-limiting embodiment, a single sheet is folded to
produce a desire
greeting card 10. In another embodiment, the greeting card 10 employs three-
dimensional
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molding or three-dimensional printing to create the greeting card 10. The
greeting card 10 can
be manufactured via any method known in the art.
[0018] The gift storage compartment 20, as used herein, refers to a portion of
the
greeting card which stores an item. The gift storage compartment 20 comprises
a volume and a
depth for storing an item. The gift storage compartment 20 can have various
sizes and volumes
in order to accommodate different sizes of gifts. As an example, the gift
storage compartment 20
can have a height of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16,
17, 18, 19. or 20 inches as
well as have a width of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 inches although other
lengths and heights,
including smaller and/or larger increments, can be used as well for the gift
storage compartment
20. In addition, and in another embodiment, the gift storage compartment 20
can have a depth of
a quarter inch, half inch, three-quarters of an inch, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,
16, 17, 18, 19, or 20 inches in order to accommodate various gift sizes and
shapes although other
depths and/or volumes can be used to accommodate other gift sizes. In one
embodiment the gift
storage compartment 20 comprises a three-dimensional volume in which to store
an item.
[0019] Depending on the desired configuration, the gift storage compartment 20
may
be positioned in a variety of positions on the multipurpose greeting card 10,
and the gift storage
compartment 20 may also be configured to hold any size or shape of gift. In
some embodiments
the gift storage compartment 20 can be in the shape of a rectangle as shown in
Figure 1, but this
is for illustrative purposes only and should not be deemed limiting. In other
embodiments the
gift storage compartment 20 can comprise any of the following shapes:
quadrilateral, triangle,
square, trapezoid, octagon, cylinder, and/or circle or any combination of
these shapes including
variations thereof. As an example, in one embodiment the triangle and
quadrilateral may be used
together to form the gift storage compartment 20. In another embodiment, the
gift storage
compartment 20 may take the partial shape of a quadrilateral, triangle,
square, trapezoid,
octagon, cylinder, and/or circle as long as there is sufficient volume to hold
the prospective gift
inside the gift storage compartment 20.
[0020] The gift storage compartment 20 in some embodiments can hold virtually
any
gift, including but not limited to candy, such as a candy bar, money, gift
cards, notes, another
card, a greeting card, flowers, candy, toys, pet gifts, jewelry, perishable
and non-perishable gift
items, etc. The gift storage compartment 20 can comprise virtually any
material including, but
not limited to, cardboard, fabric, wood, wood-based products, three
dimensional printing
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techniques and products, three dimensional printing, paper, tin, foil,
plastic, rubber, and any
combinations or mixtures thereof etc. The gift storage compartment 20 can be
soft or rigid in
nature. In some embodiments the gift storage compartment 20 comprises a
material that would
make the gift storage compartment 20 hard in nature such as a gift box, gift
bag, package, or
other hard structural material. In another embodiment, the gift storage
compartment 20 of the
multipurpose greeting card 10 may be soft such as a gift bag, plastic bag,
plastic, or other
material that is pliable in nature. The gift storage compartment 20 can be
sealed or unsealed.
[0021] In addition and in one embodiment, the system further comprises a gift
storage
compartment surface 30. In one embodiment, the gift storage compartment
surface 30 is a
window through which the contents of the gift storage compartment 20 can be
partially or fully
visible. In one embodiment the gift storage compartment surface 30 comprises a
plastic or other
material. In one embodiment the gift storage compartment surface 30 comprises
a transparent
surface such that a person can see the contents of the gift storage
compartment 20 when the
multipurpose greeting card 10 is opened or in the opened position. In an
additional embodiment,
the gift storage compartment surface 30 can comprise various colors of
material such as plastic
that allow for some transparency as to the contents of the gift storage
compartment 20 when the
multipurpose greeting card 10 is opened or in the opened position.
[0022] The gift storage compartment surface 30 can be transparent or opaque.
In one
embodiment the gift storage compartment surface 30 is transparent or
sufficiently transparent to
allow a user to view at least some of the contents of the gift storage
compartment 20 (e.g., semi-
transparent). In another embodiment, the gift storage compartment surface 30
is transparent but
only covers a portion of the gift storage compartment 20 such that only a
portion of the item(s)
within the gift storage compartment 20 can be viewed through the gift storage
compartment
surface 30.
[0023] As depicted, the all-in-one gift packaging system also comprises an
optional
hanger 50. The hanger 50, as used herein, refers to any device which can be
used or configured
to hang or otherwise engage the shelving of a store so that the gift packaging
system can be
displayed for sale at a store. As depicted, the hanger 50 comprises a fully
enclosed ring such that
the ring is open and allows for a metal rod or other material to pass through
the ring in order to
hang the multipurpose greeting card 10 or the movable (can open or close)
greeting card cover
60 (depicted in Figure 2, and discussed below). In some embodiments, the
hanger 50 can also
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comprise a hook, square, circle or loop that can be used to hang the
multipurpose greeting card
or the expandable greeting card cover 60 in a store or other place. Virtually
any type of retail
hanger 50 can be utilized. In one embodiment the hanger 50 comprises
perforation or other line
of weakness which allow the hanger 50 to be removed when desired. For example,
in one
embodiment the hanger 50 is removed prior to the greeting card 10 being
inserted into the
envelope or other container. In other embodiments the hanger 50 is pushed down
or hidden prior
to being inserted into the envelope or other container.
[00241 Figure 2 is a perspective view of a greeting card with a movable cover
in one
embodiment. Figure 2 depicts a system comprising a multipurpose greeting card
10, an optional
gift storage compartment 20, a flat greeting card portion 40, the optional
hanger 50, a gift storage
compartment surface 30, and a movable greeting card cover 60. The movable
greeting card
cover 60 can be moved from an open position wherein the greeting card portion
40 is visible to a
closed position adjacent to the greeting card portion 40 wherein the greeting
card portion 40 is
not visible. In one embodiment the greeting card cover 60 is coupled to the
greeting card
portion 40 via a hinge such that the greeting card cover 60 can rotate between
the open and
closed positions. In one embodiment the greeting card cover 60 is not directly
coupled to the gift
storage compartment 20. Instead, for example, the gift storage compartment 20
is coupled to the
greeting card portion 40 and not the greeting card cover 60. In this fashion,
the greeting card
cover 60 is free to open and close without moving the gift storage
compartment. This is an
advantage in that the gift storage compartment 20 is large and sometimes
bulky. If the greeting
card cover 60 were directly coupled to the gift storage compartment 20, the
cover 60 would be
difficult and cumbersome to move. Allowing the greeting card cover 60 to move
without the
weight of the gift storage compartment 20 increases the effectiveness of the
cover 60.
[0025] In one embodiment, the multipurpose greeting card 10, flat greeting
card potion
40, or movable greeting card cover 60 are opened alone or in combination from
left-to-right,
right-to-left, top-to-bottom, and/or bottom-to-top. In another embodiment, the
multipurpose
greeting card 10 is single-layered in that the gift storage compartment 20,
flat greeting card
portion 40, hanger 50, gift storage compartment surface 30, and a movable
greeting card cover
60 are in a single layer instead of in a multi-layered configuration. However,
it will be
understood that in another embodiment these same components can be configured
in a multi-
layered configuration. A multi-layered configuration is an embodiment wherein,
for example,
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the greeting card cover 60 covers only a portion of the greeting card portion
40 such that it
appears to have multiple layers.
[0026] The greeting card cover 60 has several advantages. First, it increases
the
available surface area upon which the users can provide graphics or a message.
Second, it
provides an opportunity to cover or hide the message or graphics located on
the planar greeting
card portion 40. In another embodiment, the greeting card cover 60 triggers a
device, sensor,
multipurpose greeting card 10, or other component of the multipurpose gift
card 10. The trigger
can be used to play music, emit sounds, play recorded videos or sounds, light
up images, etc.
[0027] Figure 2 also depicts an optional fastener 70 which used to secure the
greeting
card cover 60 to the greeting card portion 40. The fastener 70 can comprise
any device or
method for securing the greeting card cover 60 to the multipurpose greeting
card 10 or the
greeting card portion 40. The fastener 70 can include a magnet, hidden magnet,
tape, an
adhesive, a hook and loop fastener such as Velcro , clear seal, clear wafer-
sized seal, clear
sticky substance, gummy sticky adhesive (re-closable if needed), what is
commonly referred to
in the industry as booger glue, glue, adhesive, or self-locking tab to secure
the greeting card
cover 60 to the multipurpose greeting card 10 or to the greeting card portion
40. In addition and
in one embodiment, the fastener 70 may be hidden from view when the
multipurpose greeting
card 10 is unopened. In another embodiment, the fastener 70 can be located at
a number of
different positions on the greeting card cover 60 including the top, middle,
bottom, left, right, or
other locations of the greeting card cover 60. In another embodiment, a
fastener 70 may also be
located on the greeting card portion 40 and work with a fastener 70 located on
the greeting card
cover 60 to affix, attach, couple, or otherwise close the multipurpose
greeting card 10. The
fastener 70 can also comprise an external fastener which provides an external
force to couple the
multipurpose greeting card 10. An external fastener, in one embodiment, can
comprise a wrap, a
strap, a cellophane wrap, or other similar packaging.
[0028] Figure 3A is a top view of an optional expandable greeting card
container that is
configured to hold or contain the multipurpose greeting card. As depicted, the
expandable card
container 80 has a volume or depth large enough to hold the multipurpose
greeting card 10 or
gift box therein, while also being configured to be collapsible or folding to
a size capable of
being removably stored. For example, in some embodiments, the expandable card
container 80
may be an envelope, wrapping paper, gift box, gift bag, or a pleated envelope.
As depicted, the
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card container 80 comprises a pleated envelope. In another embodiment, the
expandable greeting
card container 80 can be substantially flat before a multipurpose greeting
card 10 is placed inside
the expandable greeting card container 80 but then expand or unfold to be able
to hold the
multipurpose greeting card that contains a gift that has any volume or depth.
In another
embodiment, the expandable greeting card container 80 comprises a pleated
envelope that can lie
in folded-down position but then expand using the pleats when a multipurpose
greeting card 10
is place inside of the expandable greeting card container 80.
[0029] In another embodiment, the expandable greeting card container 80 also
comprises a fastening component 90, which can be configure to affix, close, or
attach to the
expandable greeting card container 80 in order to close or seal the expandable
greeting card
container 80. For example, the fastening component 90 can comprise paper,
cardboard, or other
type of tab that is used to close or seal the expandable greeting card
container 80. In one
embodiment, the fastening component 90 can comprise a magnet, hidden magnet, a
glue-based
composition, tab, loop and hook fasteners such Velcro , a string and anchor
fastener, slits, slots,
adhesive, slider, envelope, no-melt glue with release, glue, a tie-up
fastener, top, cover, any
fastener disclosed herein, or any other fastener that can close the expandable
greeting card
container 80. In one embodiment the fastener 90 uses a self-tucking system
such that no
adhesive is used in fastening the expandable card container 80 to the
multipurpose greeting card
10.
[0030] The greeting card container 80 can comprise virtually any shape,
including the
various shapes described above with reference to the greeting card 10. In one
embodiment the
greeting card container 80 has a similar shape to the greeting card 10 that it
will contain. The
fastening component 90 can comprise various lengths, widths, and shapes
depending on the size,
shape, or volume of the multipurpose greeting card 10 or the expandable
greeting card container
80.
[0031] As depicted, the greeting card container 80 has one or more slits 130.
The slits
can be used to couple the greeting card container 80 to the hanger 50 coupled
to the greeting card
10. As depicted, the greeting card container 80 has two slits 130. In such an
embodiment, the
hanger 50 can be inserted into the lower slit 130 and pulled through the top
slit 130. In this
fashion, the greeting card 10 would be in front of the greeting card container
80 and both would
be coupled via the hanger 50. This provides the advantage of hanging both
items with a single
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hanger 50. This has a further advantage of keeping a specific greeting card
container 80 coupled
to a specific greeting card 10. While in one embodiment, the greeting card
container 80 and the
specific greeting card 10 are sold as a single unit, in other embodiments, the
greeting card
container 80 and the greeting card 10 are presented and sold as separate
units. In one example,
the greeting card container 80 and the greeting card 10 will comprise
different SKU's and
separate price tags. In other embodiments, however, the greeting card
container 80 and the
greeting card 10 will be sold as a single unit, even if they are not packaged
or presented as a
single unit.
[0032] Figure 3b depicts a side view of the greeting card container 80 shown
in Figure
3a. As can be seen, the greeting card container 80 depicted comprises pleats
to allow the
container to expand. Figures 4a and 4b are perspective views of the greeting
card being inserted
into a container. In the embodiment depicted, the greeting card does not
comprise a hanger 50.
Accordingly, the container 80 does not have slits as previously described.
[0033] As can be seen, the greeting card container 80 expands as necessary to
accommodate the greeting card 10. Thereafter, the greeting card container 80
can be closed via
fastener 90 as previously discussed. A message such as "To/From" or the like
can be placed on
the container 80. Other items such as postage, mailing addresses, etc. can
also be placed on the
container 80. As seen in Figure 3C, the greeting card 10 comprises a greeting
card portion 40
coupled to a gift storage compartment 20 having a certain depth and/or volume
to hold a gift,
gift card, candy, money, or other tangible item. The greeting card 10 depicted
has a flat planar
top portion coupled to at its bottom to a larger gift storage compartment. The
greeting card 10 in
such an embodiment has a cross sectional shape similar to a lowercase "b" or
[0034] As discussed, in some embodiments the greeting card container 80
encompasses
and fully surrounds the entire greeting card 10. This is for illustrative
purposes only and should
not be deemed limiting. In some embodiments the greeting card container 80
will comprise a
strap or other coupling device which couples the greeting card 10 to another
object.
[0035] Figure 5 is a perspective view of a multipurpose greeting card in one
embodiment. In this embodiment, the gift storage compartment 20 comprises a
length and width
that is substantially similar to the multipurpose greeting card 10 such that
the gift storage
compartment 20 is configured to hold a gift that is close to or substantially
similar in size to the
multipurpose greeting card 10. Put differently, in one embodiment the gift
storage compartment
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20 comprises dimensions which are similar to the dimensions of the overall
greeting card 10.
This is an advantage, in some embodiments, because it provides a sleeker and
more uniform
appearance Another advantage provided by the multipurpose greeting card 10 is
to provide an
element of surprise, which as a recipient of the multipurpose greeting card 10
is opening up the
greeting card his or her anticipation builds and he or she will not know the
contents of the gift
until the gift storage compartment 20 or multipurpose greeting card 10 is
opened.
[0036] As depicted, the greeting card 10 further comprises a greeting card
cover 60, as
previously described. As depicted, the greeting card cover 60 comprises a flap
100 that can be
used to hold a card, money, gift card, tickets, lottery tickets, small candy,
or other items in place.
When the greeting card cover 60 is in a closed position flush against the gift
storage
compartment 20, the greeting card cover 60 as well as the flap 100 act to
secure the money, card,
etc. which is held by the flap 100. The size and shape of the flap 100 can
vary depending upon
the item that it is securing. In still other embodiments, not depicted, the
greeting card cover 60
comprises a slit, slot or other opening that can be used to hold a gift card,
money, or other item in
place. In still other embodiments, the cover 60 does not comprise the flap
100.
[0037] In another embodiment, the gift storage compartment 20 can have the
same
height as the greeting card cover 60 such that both are substantially equal or
have a height that is
substantially the same as the multipurpose greeting card 10 (See Figure 4). In
one embodiment,
gift storage compartment 20 has a depth and/or volume as shown in Figure 4,
which can also
have the substantially or near the same height or width of the greeting card
portion where the gift
storage compartment can hold an item that is substantially similar in height
and width to the
multipurpose greeting card 10.
[0038] If needed, and in some embodiments, the gift storage compartment 20 can
further comprise Styrofoam, packing pellets, or other packing materials to
fill space and provide
cushion for the gift. Thus, if the gift in Figure 4 was a small sculpture, for
example, the gift
storage compartment 20 can further comprise packing pellets, as an example, to
prevent the
sculpture from breaking during delivery, shipping, etc.
[0039] In one embodiment, the multipurpose greeting card 10 can also comprise
a
speaker, circuitry, and/or software that is capable of playing a message, such
as a pre-recorded
message. In one such embodiment, the multipurpose greeting card 10 is capable
of playing a
pre-recorded message or allowing a customer to record a message for the
recipient of the
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multipurpose greeting card 10 using a speaker, circuitry, processor, and/or
software configured
to record and play a message. In another embodiment, the multipurpose greeting
card 10 can be
configured play a pre-recorded message or a message recorded after purchase of
the
multipurpose greeting card 10 wherein the circuitry configured to play and
record the message is
embedded within the multipurpose greeting card 10, gift storage compartment
20, greeting card
portion 40, greeting card cover 60, and/or flap 100 such that most of the
circuitry cannot be seen
on the outside of the multipurpose greeting card except for a slit or other
speaker component for
playing the message. In another embodiment, the multipurpose greeting card 10
comprises a
speaker, software, and a processor for recording or playing a pre-recorded
message or is
configured to allow a person to record a message using the speaker, software,
and/or processor.
[0040] In still another embodiment, the greeting card 10 comprises telescoping
or pop-
up items known in the art. For example, the cover 60 may comprise tabs or
items which can be
pulled and extended to reveal another image, or message. Further, the cover 60
may provide
sufficient force to keep folded or spring loaded items located on the greeting
card portion 40 in a
locked position but otherwise spring up when the cover 60 is opened. These and
other features
known in the art can be incorporated into the greeting card 10.
[0041] In one embodiment the greeting card portion 40 is not already coupled
to the
gift storage compartment 20, as has been depicted in the figures. Instead, it
is presented as a mix
and match greeting card plus gift system. This allows the user to better
customize their gift. As
an example, the customer may prefer the image and/or message on one gift card
portion 40, and
may prefer a different gift found in the gift storage compartment 20. Thus,
for example, the gift
storage compartments 20 may comprise a variety of Otis from which the user can
choose. The
user can then choose the desired gift storage compartment 20 and couple that
with the desired
greeting card portion 40. In one embodiment the gift storage compartment 20
and the greeting
card portion 40 will comprise separate price tags, separate SKU's, etc. This
allows differently
priced gifts to be sold. As an example, a gift storage compartment 20
comprises a candy bar will
have a significantly reduced price compared to a gift storage compartment 20
which has a $50
gift card. In other embodiments, however, the gift storage compartment 20 and
the greeting card
portion 40 will comprise a single price tag and be sold as a single unit. By
presenting the ability
to create mix and match, the user is better able to achieve their desired
combination of gift card
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13
portion 40 and gift storage compartment. In another embodiment, the gift
storage compartment is
on a separate hanger than the container of the multipurpose greeting card 10.
[0042] Figure 6 is a front view of an embodiment comprising a gift card in one
embodiment. The gift card 110 can be secured via any method or device,
including fasteners,
slots, etc. discussed herein. As depicted, the gift card 110 is secured via
two slots 120 located on
the greeting card portion 40. The gift card 110, in other embodiments can also
be secured on
either the front face or the rear face of the greeting card cover 60.
[0043] The greeting card depicted in Figure 5 does not comprise a hang tag.
Instead, it
can positioned on a shelf like other traditional greeting cards.
[0044] The multipurpose greeting card 10 discussed above has several
advantages.
First, it allows the user to couple a card with a gift. Previously, users had
to separately purchase
a greeting card and a gift, wrap each separately, and deliver each item
separately. This was
inefficient, expensive, and often resulted in the greeting card becoming
separated from the gift.
This problem is exaggerated at a baby shower, for example, where many gifts
and cards are
collected making it difficult to ascertain who the gift and/or cards are from.
The multipurpose
greeting card 10 discussed herein solves these problems. A user can purchase a
single greeting
card 10 which will include the greeting card as well as a container in which
to store the gift.
Further, the multipurpose greeting card 10 eliminates the need to separately
wrap the gift as the
gift can be stored within the greeting card 10 or in another alternative the
envelope can serve as
the wrap. Another advantage of the multipurpose gift card is that it serves as
a one-stop shop for
customers looking to provide a gift and card in one sleek package. In another
example, the
multipurpose gift card can be colored to match and ties together via color the
card. gift card
container, envelope, multipurpose greeting card 10, storage compartment 20,
gift storage
compartment surface 30, greeting card portion 40, or card cover 60.
[0045] An additional advantage is the ability to provide a uniform theme which
was
previously difficult, ineffective, or impossible. As an example, perhaps the
greeting card has a
"Happy New Year" message. The gift can then include a toy which shoots
confetti, or a Happy
New Year hat. In such embodiments, the theme presented in the card can match
with the theme
presented in the gift. In other embodiments the theme presented in the card
and/or gift, can also
match with the theme presented in the container.
14
[0046] As discussed above, in one embodiment the greeting portion 40, the
cover 60,
the gift storage compaitment 20, and/or the greeting card container 80 can be
customized by a
user. A user can upload photos, text, images, sounds, videos, etc. to have
those custom features
incorporated into portions of the greeting card 10 or the greeting card
container 80. Thus, if the
theme is red, a red greeting card portion 40 can be coupled with a red cover
60, a red gift storage
compartment 20, and packaged in a red greeting card container. Further, each
or all of these
components can include customized photos and text provided by the user. In one
embodiment,
the user can further select coordinating gift options to fill the greeting
card container. Such a
method and system offers increased user customization and flexibility.
[0047] The above-described embodiments of the invention are presented for
purposes
of illustration and not of limitation. While these embodiments of the
invention have been
described with reference to numerous specific details, one of ordinary skill
in the art will
recognize that the invention can be embodied in other specific forms without
departing from the
spirit of the invention. Thus, one of ordinary skill in the art would
understand that the invention
is not to be limited by the foregoing illustrative details, but should be
given the broadest
interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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ADDITONAL DISCLOSURE
The following clauses are offered as further description of the disclosed
invention.
Clause 1. A greeting card system, said system comprising:
a greeting card;
a greeting card container for receiving said greeting card;
wherein said greeting card comprises a planar greeting card portion coupled to
a
gift storage compartment, wherein said gift storage compartment comprises a
volume and
depth for storing an item.
Clause 2. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said
greeting card
further comprises a greeting card cover, wherein said greeting card cover is
moveably
coupled to said planar greeting card portion to move from an open position to
a closed
position adjacent to said planar greeting card portion, and wherein said
greeting card
cover is not directly coupled to said gift storage compartment.
Clause 3. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said
greeting card
cover further comprises a fastener to secure said greeting card cover to said
greeting card
portion.
Clause 4. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim further
comprising a flap
located on said greeting card cover.
Clause 5. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said
greeting card
cover can open and close relative to said planar greeting card portion without
moving
said gift storage compartment.
Clause 6. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said gift
storage
compartment is coupled below said planar greeting card portion.
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Clause 7. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said gift
storage
compartment further comprises a gift storage compartment surface.
Clause 8. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said gift
storage
compartment surface comprises a transparent window.
Clause 9. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said
greeting card
further comprises a hanger.
Clause 10. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said
greeting card
container is expandable.
Clause 11. The system of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein said
gift storage
compartment is releaseably coupled to said planar greeting card portion.
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Clause 12. A greeting card comprising:
a planar greeting card portion;
a greeting card cover moveably coupled to said planar greeting card portion to
move from an open position to a closed position adjacent to said planar
greeting card
portion:
a gift storage compartment coupled to said planar greeting card portion,
wherein
said gift storage compartment comprises a volume and depth for storing an
item;
wherein said greeting card cover can open and close relative to said planar
greeting card portion without moving said gift storage compartment.
Clause 13. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein
said gift storage
compartment further comprises a transparent window.
Clause 14. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein
said greeting
card cover is not directly coupled to said gift storage compartment.
Clause 15. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim further
comprising a
greeting card container which encompasses said greeting card.
Clause 16. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein
said gift storage
compartment is releasably coupled to said planar greeting card portion.
Clause 17. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein
said greeting
card cover is coupled to said greeting card portion via a hinge.
Clause 18. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim wherein
said card is
integrally made from a single sheet.
Clause 19. The greeting card of any proceeding or preceding claim further
comprising a gift
located in said gift storage compartment.
